- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,198,783
- Reaction score
- 59
FREDERICK — Former Bishop Walsh Elite head coach Dan Prete concluded his first season as a professional basketball coach for the Frederick Flying Cows on Saturday.
The Flying Cows compete in the 94x50 League, a professional basketball league mostly in the mid-Atlantic.
Frederick opened the season 3-7 but finished 11-13 to qualify for the inaugural 94x50 League playoffs.
The Flying Cows defeated Virginia (12-13), 110-97 in the opening round on Thursday before falling in the semifinals, 105-102, to Capital (23-1) on Saturday.
Prete brought more than 30 years of coaching experience to Frederick, including five at Bishop Walsh from 2018-23.
Prete coached the Spartans for two seasons in the EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), one of the country’s top high school basketball leagues.
“He’s been a huge asset for us this year,” Flying Cows general manager Chris Jenkins said. “Being local to Frederick, he’s lived here a couple decades but never coached in Frederick. He’s able to bring a ton of experience and connections, not just to the team but to the league.”
The 94x50 League was founded this season, consisting of seven teams from the TBL (The Basketball League), along with the expansion Baltimore Rhythm.
Frederick spent its first two seasons in the TBL and reached the Final Four last year.
“The ownership group is from Central Maryland and wanted to start a team in the TBL,” Jenkins said of the team’s inception. “They scoped out the local area to see the best spot for a minor league basketball market and landed on Frederick.”
Prete was unavailable for comment.
The Flying Cows, Rhythm and the Capital Seahawks represent Maryland.
The Jersey Shore Breaks (N.J.), New York Phoenix, Reading Rebels (Pa.) and San Diego Sharks are the other teams.
“We wanted to be part of a smaller group, more regional-wise,” Jenkins said of the creation of 94x50. “We all had a good experience in the old league, but decided to do something more regional. Of the eight teams, seven are east coast, within a couple hours drive. That was important to us.”
The 94x50 League considers itself a minor league of professional basketball.
Depending on experience, players receive between $1,000-$5,000 per month, along with living and travel expenses covered.
The majority of players are former Division I athletes with several others having overseas professional experience.
Donte Greene, of the Baltimore Rhythm, was the 28th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of Syracuse and played four seasons for the Sacramento Kings.
While the quality of competition is high, Jenkins said another emphasis is entertainment.
“Our number one thing is we consider ourselves a community asset from an entertainment space,” Jenkins said. “We’re all about entertainment. Not necessarily Savannah Bananas level, the gameplay is very serious to the players and everyone else. But it’s whimsical and wacky. Players warm up in capes, we have a dancing cow as a mascot.”
Jenkins said Frederick leads the league in attendance, averaging just under 1,000 fans.
Continue reading...
The Flying Cows compete in the 94x50 League, a professional basketball league mostly in the mid-Atlantic.
Frederick opened the season 3-7 but finished 11-13 to qualify for the inaugural 94x50 League playoffs.
The Flying Cows defeated Virginia (12-13), 110-97 in the opening round on Thursday before falling in the semifinals, 105-102, to Capital (23-1) on Saturday.
Prete brought more than 30 years of coaching experience to Frederick, including five at Bishop Walsh from 2018-23.
Prete coached the Spartans for two seasons in the EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), one of the country’s top high school basketball leagues.
“He’s been a huge asset for us this year,” Flying Cows general manager Chris Jenkins said. “Being local to Frederick, he’s lived here a couple decades but never coached in Frederick. He’s able to bring a ton of experience and connections, not just to the team but to the league.”
The 94x50 League was founded this season, consisting of seven teams from the TBL (The Basketball League), along with the expansion Baltimore Rhythm.
Frederick spent its first two seasons in the TBL and reached the Final Four last year.
“The ownership group is from Central Maryland and wanted to start a team in the TBL,” Jenkins said of the team’s inception. “They scoped out the local area to see the best spot for a minor league basketball market and landed on Frederick.”
Prete was unavailable for comment.
The Flying Cows, Rhythm and the Capital Seahawks represent Maryland.
The Jersey Shore Breaks (N.J.), New York Phoenix, Reading Rebels (Pa.) and San Diego Sharks are the other teams.
“We wanted to be part of a smaller group, more regional-wise,” Jenkins said of the creation of 94x50. “We all had a good experience in the old league, but decided to do something more regional. Of the eight teams, seven are east coast, within a couple hours drive. That was important to us.”
The 94x50 League considers itself a minor league of professional basketball.
Depending on experience, players receive between $1,000-$5,000 per month, along with living and travel expenses covered.
The majority of players are former Division I athletes with several others having overseas professional experience.
Donte Greene, of the Baltimore Rhythm, was the 28th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of Syracuse and played four seasons for the Sacramento Kings.
While the quality of competition is high, Jenkins said another emphasis is entertainment.
“Our number one thing is we consider ourselves a community asset from an entertainment space,” Jenkins said. “We’re all about entertainment. Not necessarily Savannah Bananas level, the gameplay is very serious to the players and everyone else. But it’s whimsical and wacky. Players warm up in capes, we have a dancing cow as a mascot.”
Jenkins said Frederick leads the league in attendance, averaging just under 1,000 fans.
Continue reading...
